Such a nice, non-argumentative post on SB. But as a Christian, I can tell you it's spelled Hanukkah. What is it with you Jews? Can't even agree on spelling.
I am just kidding.
If you haven't already, I recommend reading the works of John Spong, an Episcopalian bishop, researcher and scholar who directly connects the Jewish prophets to the Jesus story. It is fascinating stuff.
And Merry Christmas. Because there was a Jesus. And he means so much to Jews and Gentiles alike

Don, I've read some of the works in which you speak. Very interesting. I also like reading Ravi Zacharias' works even though his basis is wrought from the bible whereas I am a Catholic and our philosophical basis isn't as bible-reliant.

I'd also like to take this time wish a Happy Solstice to the Wiccan's. I know they get a lot of flak, especially from Christians, but their reason behind their beliefs are not any different than mine.

Mikey,
In my mind, this is Spong's most impressive work. He eviscerates the gospels, but does it in a loving way, knowing that at least six decades of oral tradition passed before the first written word about Jesus was put to paper. He has no doubt that Jesus was imbued by God, and that the gospel writers had nowhere else to turn but to early scriptures to try to describe the experience.
I guess that is why we are Judeo-Christian, all sons and daughters of Abraham.
Like you, I am Catholic, if nominally so. Were you an altar boy? I was. I always screwed up on the timing of ringing the bells during the Eucharist.
Thank you for the reference to Ravi Zacharias. Is there a particular work I should request at the library?

Don, Unfortunately I was pulled out of Catholic school before I was of age to be an alter boy. My parents wanted me to experience public school before I went to high school.

Another reader I always enjoyed was Fr. Lucien Longtin, S.J. who offered some great aspects on morality as well.

My favorite of Ravi is just to listen to him. He has many of his speeches on youtube. The book of his I own is Who made God? which answers many big theological questions in the context of science.

Ravi gets questions and debates many atheists. His answers are based upon logic and science and he easy finds ways to prove the "bumper sticker" atheists wrong. My favorite was a student who said "Everything is meaningless" to which he replied "You don't believe that and if you do it makes no sense because if everything is meaningless than nothing that you do or say is meaningful which means you're speaking gibberish."

I find atheists fascinating because they attempt to use scientific arguments to prove there is no God yet science cannot definitely prove there is not God and since science only accepts that which can be proven as fact all else must be a possibility. Meaning, atheists rely on more faith than most of the religious and usually do so not based in reason but based upon a rejection of that which their society accepts.

As we are still in the 8-day long observance of Chanukah, I wish to express my appreciation to all who have responded (publicly and privately) with well wishes, as opposed to those who attempted to detract from the well-intended subject message of this thread. I cannot help but wonder if there is any prejudicial intent (such as anti-Semitism, as that word is used in meaning anti-Jewish) behind the authors of the messages that appear to have been written in an attempt to hijack this message thread of the "Happy Chanukah" greeting.

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